In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
SWC Poker’s 5 BTC GTD Bitcoin Series of Poker underway
A home favorite for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, SWC Poker has grown its platform to become a top Bitcoin poker site for its relatively quick and easy transactions. However, more than that, the budding online poker hub appeals to many for its great value games, exciting promotions, and interesting innovations. This time around, the site is bringing all the attention to its ongoing Bitcoin Series of Poker (BSOP) which boasts a record total of 5,000,000 μBTC (5 BTC) in prizes to be awarded throughout the series. Aside from the boost, this year’s games welcome a variety of new additions including 6-Card PLO, NL 2-7 Single Draw, Drawmaha, and Heads-Up Shootout events.
The four-week festival running through August 20 has so far passed its halfway mark having wrapped up over 40 events to date. While this may be the case, it certainly is not too late to hop on the buzz with at least eight more highlights remaining on schedule, including the 350,000 μBTC guaranteed BSOP Main Event. Undeniably the biggest prize pool on the list, the Main Event is scheduled to run on August 20th with the champion crowned also on the series’ final day.
Remaining BSOP Highlights
- 5k No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up Championship
- 2k Triple Stud
- 5k 9-Game Bitcoin Poker Player’s Championship
- 2k 6-Card Pot Limit Omaha
- 5k Pot Limit Omaha Championship
- 10k No Limit Hold’em High Roller
- 2k No Limit 2-7 Single Draw
- 5k 2023 Bitcoin Series of Poker Main Event
2023 Bitcoin Series of Poker Schedule of Events
Winning Poker Network celebrates The High Five with $14.4M in guarantees
The tournament scene across the Winning Poker Network has been a full stop affair with back to back festivals running on skins Americas Cardroom, PokerKing, and Black Chip Poker. This August, the US-friendly network is celebrating another round of its The High Five Tournament Series, available through the 27th. Over 200 events in total are in store for eager tournament runners, posting a collective $14.4 Million in prize pool guarantees.
Buy-ins range from an affordable $1.1 to a $2,650 high for its $1 Million guaranteed High Stakes Special set to run on August 27th. Speaking of seven figured pots, another $1 Million guaranteed tournament for a more modest $630 buy-in – Sunday Blunt Roller or otherwise known as Main Event, is scheduled to kick off on the final Sunday of the series.
The action-packed Sunday will also cover both Day 2’s of the festival’s newest Mystery Bounty format – $300K GTD ($16.50 buy-in) and $75K GTD ($2.50 buy-in). Starting flights for both events are currently underway with schedules available daily all throughout the 27th.
Full schedule of events posted on ACR’s official website.
XP Races back on Unibet
A longtime promotion on the network, XP Races is making an awaited return on Unibet Poker for five weeks of leaderboard action available through September 10th. Started just a few days ago, players are invited to hop on and rack up points to claim a piece of the €75,000 prize pool.
All users earn 1 XP for every 1 cent of rake paid, regardless of what variant (tournament or cash games) are played. Those who make it to the top 100 of the charts will share a weekly pot of €15,000 with the winner claiming €1,500 in bonus prizes.
Unibet’s XP Races Weekly Leaderboard
| Week 1 | 07/08 – 13/08 | € 15,000.00 |
| Week 2 | 14/08 – 20/08 | € 15,000.00 |
| Week 3 | 21/08 – 27/08 | € 15,000.00 |
| Week 4 | 28/08 – 03/09 | € 15,000.00 |
| Week 5 | 04/09 – 10/09 | € 15,000.00 |
Weekly MTT Leaderboard at WPT Global
The online home of the World Poker Tour, WPT Global has quickly developed into one of the largest real money poker sites available today with its unique and juicy offerings keeping its loyal users in tune. The site’s weekly MTT leaderboards for one, is a great way to give back to its players while also keeping those bankrolls alive. Big cash prizes and tournament tickets are given away weekly, totalling to a value of over $14,000 spread out across its two leaderboards – Main for MTTs under $27, and High Roller for $27 and up.
Points earned starting from each Monday are tallied through the next Sunday with those making the top 100 of the Weekly Main Leaderboard receiving a slice of the pie. Meanwhile those engaged in more expensive buy-ins, will see the top 5 finishers lock up a share of the $4,010 pot with the top rank claiming a $1,560 prize value. Winning tournaments essentially mean more points for players as these are calculated based on the tournament finish place, and the number of entries collected.
Weekly Main MTT Leaderboard prizes
| Position | Prize | Total Prize Value |
| 1st | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + 2xUSD 220 WPT WC Ticket + USD 1000 | USD 1,550 |
| 2nd | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + 2xUSD 220 WPT WC Ticket + USD 600 | USD 1,150 |
| 3rd | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + 2xUSD 220 WPT WC Ticket + USD 500 | USD 1,050 |
| 4th | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 220 WPT WC Ticket + USD 400 | USD 730 |
| 5th | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 220 WPT WC Ticket + USD 300 | USD 630 |
| 6th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 300 | USD 355 |
| 7th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 250 | USD 305 |
| 8th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 200 | USD 255 |
| 9th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 150 | USD 205 |
| 10th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 100 | USD 155 |
| 11th-20th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 50 | USD 1,050 |
| 21st-50th | USD 55 WPT WC Ticket | USD 1,650 |
| 51st-100th | USD 22 WPT WC Ticket | USD 1,100 |
| TOTAL | USD 10,185 |
Weekly High Roller Leaderboard Prizes
| Position | Prize | Total Prize Value |
| 1st | 1xUSD 1,060 WPT WC Ticket + USD 500 | USD 1,560 |
| 2nd | 4xUSD 220 WPT WC Ticket + USD 250 | USD 1,130 |
| 3rd | 3xUSD 220 WPT WC Ticket | USD 660 |
| 4th | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 220 WPT WC Ticket | USD 330 |
| 5th | 2xUSD 55 WPT WC Ticket + USD 220 WPT WC Ticket | USD 330 |
| TOTAL | USD 4,010 |
Additionally, the site offers a $100,000 jackpot tied with the Triple Crown title for whoever can take down three Sunday Majors within a 22-day period. Sunday Majors listed include the $110 Sunday Slam with a $50,000 guarantee; $330 Grand Slam with a weekly $20,000 guarantee and an $11 Mini Slam with an $8,888 guarantee.
